USA: Brad and Angelina walk red carpet in Los Angelese for Benjamin Button premiere

Record ID: 218905

  • Title: USA: Brad and Angelina walk red carpet in Los Angelese for Benjamin Button premiere
  • Date: 11th December 2008
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 8, 2008) (REUTERS) TILT DOWN AND WIDE SHOT OF MOVIE THEATER AND RED CARPET WIDE SHOT OF MOVIE POSTERS AND PULL OUT TO ACTRESS CATE BLANCHETT AND ACTOR BRAD PITT TALKING TO THE PRESS VARIOUS OF ACTOR BRAD PITT TALKING TO PRESS ACTRESS TARAJI P. HENSON TWIRLS FOR THE RED CARPET WIDE SHOT OF RED CARPET AND TILT DOWN TO ACTRESS CATE BLANCHETT TALKING TO PRESS ACTRESS ANGELINA JOLIE AND THE PARENTS OF BRAD PITT TALKING TO THE PRESS ACTRESS ALFRE WOODWARD HUGS ACTRESS TARAJI P. HENSON ACTOR MAHERSHALALHASHBAZ ALI TALKING TO PUBLICISTS ON THE RED CARPET CUTAWAY OF CAMERAS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR BRAD PITT ON THE THEMES OF LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS IN THE FILM, SAYING: "You know what we wanted to avoid was just that, just that 'I'm no one without you' kind of pop song mentality. 'I need you to make me viable or important or have any kind of self-worth.' And we took it more as two individuals who cross at different times and, and at one point it makes sense for them to come together. But that must end, too, at some point. (Why was--) It, it's beautiful." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS CATE BLANCHETT ON BEING ABLE TO PLAY A CHARACTER WHO AGES 80 YEARS, SAYING: "It's very rare, when you, to have a chance to play a character through 6 to 86. And you know, yes, digital technology has allowed me to play it from a 17-year-old. And I've done a voice of the 6-year-old. But usually you know they would truck in someone extraordinary like Vanessa Redgrave or Judi Dench to play, you know, the middle years of the character. But for me as an actress to have a chance to do all of that was a real gift." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR BRAD PITT ON HOW THIS FILM MAY IMPACT HIS CAREER, SAYING: "I don't know, I don't know. I think it's such, I can't compare this film to any one. So I think that remains to be seen." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS ANGELINA JOLIE ON THE ACTING ABILITY OF BRAD PITT, SAYING: "I have no idea. I mean, you know I just think he's an amazing actor. And if this is yet another example that he's very-- you know he's very dedicated to his work. And I think he's, I just think he's wonderful. So it's lovely to see him in a great film that that shows how much, how talented he is. And how much heart he gives all his performances." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS TILDA SWINTON ON WHY SHE FOUND THE ROLE TO BE COMPELLING, SAYING: "David Fincher, you know. Whatever he's doing is going to be something interesting. And I think is something really compelling about the idea of, of, and the character that I play is on the verge, is really on the verge of giving up for life. Suddenly has another kind of whiff of youth. And I think that's a really beautiful thing."
  • Embargoed: 26th December 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVAF2WGJSQULT9YNH6F82FKPGSOZ
  • Story Text: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Cate Blanchett, and Tilda Swinton walk the red carpet in Los Angeles for the black tie premiere of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." The film is based on a short story written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in the 1920s about a man who ages backwards.
    Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Cate Blanchett, and Tilda Swinton walk the red carpet in Los Angeles Monday (December 8) night for the black tie premiere of 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.' The film is based on a short story written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in the 1920s about a man who ages backwards. Fitzgerald drew his inspiration from a quote by Mark Twain "Life would be infinitely happier if we could be born at the age of 80 and gradually approach 18."
    Pitt, 44, plays the lead character, and Blanchett, 39, plays his love interest, Daisy.
    The Academy Award-winning actor shared his perspective on the central theme of the film.

    "You know what we wanted to avoid was just that, just that 'I'm no one without you' kind of pop song mentality. 'I need you to make me viable or important or have any kind of self-worth,'" explained Pitt. "And we took it more as two individuals who cross at different times and, and at one point it makes sense for them to come together. But that must end, too, at some point."
    The story is set in New Orleans and runs from the end of World War I in 1918 into the 21st century.
    Directed by David Fincher, the motion picture is characterized by a time traveler's tale of the people he meets, the places he travels, and the loves he finds and loses along the way.
    Australian Oscar winner Blanchett, said she was thrilled to be able to play a character who ages 80 years.

    "It's very rare, when you, to have a chance to play a character through 6 to 86," she told Reuters Television. "And you know, yes, digital technology has allowed me to play it from a 17-year-old. And I've done a voice of the 6-year-old. But usually you know they would truck in someone extraordinary like Vanessa Redgrave or Judi Dench to play, you know, the middle years of the character. But for me as an actress to have a chance to do all of that was a real gift."
    Some critics have hailed the performance by Pitt as being Oscar-worthy.
    But Pitt believes only time will tell how the film will be received.

    "I don't know, I don't know. I think it's such-- I can't compare this film to any one. So I think that remains to be seen," he said.
    Angelina Jolie was also spotted on the red carpet with Brad Pitt's parents, Bill and Jane Pitt.
    The 33-year-old actress told Reuters she did not know how playing this role might impact Pitt's career, but was happy to share her thoughts on her boyfriends on-camera skills.

    "I have no idea," smiled Jolie. "I mean, you know I just think he's an amazing actor. And if this is yet another example that he's very-- you know he's very dedicated to his work. And I think he's, I just think he's wonderful. So it's lovely to see him in a great film that that shows how much, how talented he is. And how much heart he gives all his performances."
    48-year-old Swinton, who was born in London to parents from Australia and Scotland, shared the reason she wanted to be a part of the film.

    "David Fincher, you know. Whatever he's doing is going to be something interesting. And I think is something really compelling about the idea of, of, and the character that I play is on the verge, is really on the verge of giving up for life. Suddenly has another kind of whiff of youth. And I think that's a really beautiful thing," she said.
    Taraji P. Henson, 38, talked about the central theme of the movie.

    "We all have moms, we all have friends, family. It deals more for me with unconditional love and how time is ticking, you know. You really don't have time for regrets in life. Cause you never know when the end of your road is coming."
    British actor Jared Harris talked about why he enjoyed working with Pitt.

    "He's a lovely guy. And, you know, when it came down to the work, he's just like he's an actor, who puts his heart and soul into everything that he does, and you know, you know you go and you support one another. You know him and David, they want everyone to do their best work. And the create the environment for that to happen."
    47-year-old Harris, who was born in London, is the son of the late Irish actor, Richard Harris.
    London-born actor Jason Flemyng confided he was in awe over the attention Pitt receives from the press and public.

    "Brad's a mate, so I've spent a lot of time with him. When we did 'Snatch,' which was a long time ago. That's insane. I can''t even concentrate.
    But yeah, it's a great movie. It's a family movie. And Brad's in it,"
    smiled Flemyng, 42.
    Flemyng is the son of Scottish film director, Gordon Flemyng.
    Actress Julia Ormond, 43, talked about why she wanted to be a part of the project.

    "But for me, it started from the viewpoint of somebody writing it-- it's shot through with very, a very personal story. And it's shot, people who contributed made this kind of deep personal commitment. And I think that's what ultimately comes through. I don't think you would get away with making a movie like this without that."
    Meanwhile, actor Mahershalahashbaz Ali summed up his feelings about the film.

    "I think we can all relate to the need to seize the moment, and to live in the moment. And I think this film kind of makes the every day moments of life appear to be more important than what we give them credit for."
    Bringing the tale to the big screen was long perceived as too difficult to accomplish. So the project floated around for more than 40 years before Fincher and his team adapted it into a screenplay, then a movie.
    'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' will be released across North America on Christmas Day, December 25th.
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